Rail-joint.



J. MUNAMARA. RAIL JOINT. fLKPPLIOATION rum) APB. 1,1909.

Patented July 27, 1909.

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muren sfrnrns PATENT onirica JOHN MCNAMARA, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN MCNAMARA, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Alleglieny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Rail-Joints, of which the fol owing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to rail joints, and the invention aims to obviate the necessity of using bolts and nuts for connecting the confronting ends of two rails.

The invention further aims to provide novel means for connecting the confronting ends of two rails and prevent said rails from becoming laterally or vertically displaced.

The invention will be hereinafter considered in detail and then speciically pointed out in the appended claims, and reference will now be had to the drawing forming a part of this application wherein there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that the structural details thereof can be varied or changed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the` rail joint constructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, Fig, 3 is a bottom plan of lthe splice bars separated to receive the ends of a rail, Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the rail joint, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of a cotter pin used in connection with the joint,

In the drawings, 1 denotes ties supporting the confronting ends of rails 2 and 3.

4 designates additional ties located beneath the confronting ends of the rails, said ties su porting splice bars 5 adapted to brace t ie base flanges 6 and the web ortions 7 of said rails. The sides of the sp ice barsV 5 are provided with stiffening ribs 8 and the lower depending vertical portions 9 of said splice bars are provided with oppositely disposed o enings 10. Arranged in the openings 10 eneath the base flanges 6 of the rails 1 and 2are sets of wedges, each set comprising wedges 11 and 12 having the smaller Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April '7, 1909.

Patented July 27, 1909.

Serial No. 488,363.

end thereof fixed, as at 13, to the splice bars 5. The openings 10 are of greater width than the width of the combined wedges sov that when the splice bars are moved away from each other for a purpose to be hereinafter referred to, the width of the openings tend to permit of such operation. The large end of said wedges are provided with openings 14 to receive the shanks 15 of braces 16 and 17, the brace 17 being located upon the inner sides of the rails and of a less height than the brace 16 to provide clearance for the flanges of the wheels of rolling stock.

The braces 16 and 17 on account of the arrangement of the wedges 1.1. and 12 are staggered with relation to each other, and all 0i' said braces extend over the splice bars and rmly hold the same against the rails 2 and 3. wedges 11 and 1 2- cotter pins 18 are used, these pins extending at an angle through the Shanks 15, whereby the heads 19 of said pins will engage the braces 16 and 17, while the split ends of said pins will engage under the splice bars 5.

lVith the cotter pins y18, and braces 16 and 17 removed, it is possible to open the splice To lock the shanls 15 within the bars 5, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby the confronting ends of the rails l2 and 3 can be easily placed in position to be clamped by said splice bars.

Having now describedgmy invention whatl I claim as new, is

1. The combination with rails, of splice bars bracing said rails, said splice bars having depending vertical portions provided with oppositely disposed openings, wedges arranged in said openings and each wedge Y the confronting ends of two rails, of splice bars bracing the base iianges and webs of said rails, said splice bars having depending vertical portions provided with oppositely disposed openings, wedges arranged in said openings beneath the base ianges of said of said braces for holding said braces in en= rails and having the smaller ends thereof iXed gageinent with said splice bars. 10 to said splice bars, While the large ends of said In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature Wedges are provided With openings, braces in the presence of two Witnesses.

adapted to engage said splice bars, said JOHN MCNAh/IARA, braces having Shanks adapted to extend Witnesses:

through the openings of said Wedges, and A. H. RABSAG,

Cotter pins disposed at an angle in the Shanks JAS. V. MGMASTER. 

